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Now Watch Our Government Unravel on Twitter! Woohoo

I love social media.

I thought the day that Congress and our lawmakers would use social media would never come. Oh how I have wished-nay, prayed- for this moment!

From Congressmen having YouTube videos, to twittering during President Obama’s speech, seeing our lovable and dysfunctional group of leaders incorporate social and new media makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.

So now the question is raised: will new and social media progress or hinder the legislative process? In my opinion, it would depend on how one looks at it.

On one end, incorporating this new technology will far improve two-way dialogue between an elected official and their constituents (with the assumptions the official will read all the feedback, and that the constituents care enough to even reach out) and therfore propose laws that actually help people (and therefore secure votes for re-election).

On the other end, this is a representative republic, therefore meaning that the elected official is empowered to do whatever they themselves feel is right for their district, so is all this attention on new media even necessary? Shouldn’t officials spend less time on making cool videos to post on their facebook profiles, and more time making our country the best place to live in? In that case, if they feel like more time is necessary on new technology, perhaps we are asking the wrong questions.

Maybe the real question is: what is more important to you, Congressman: making the country safe and prosperous, or showcasing the awesome media tools you have at your disposal to get attention –> to get bodies –> that’ll give you votes–> that will keep your power-hungry toosh in office?

Come on. It’s almost the same reason people use facebook. Make a cool profile (and either a funny or wise status update) add almost everyone you know so you look cool and connect with other cool people (I know this…I DID this!).

So adding these new media tools to the arsenal is nothing but an attempt to win votes for election. Besides, those constituents that actually contact their representatives via those tools, are the ones who will be voting anyway. The passive political audience is huge, and no matter how catchy your twitter message is, they STILL won’t vote for you. Unless its a facebook application.